Time to "bite the bullet"
Following neck surgery...... I'm changing direction, looking for an LX200 12" system, clean and usable in exchange ( or part) for a 445mm F4.5 Coulter Pyrex optics Truss Dobbie PLUS a 333mm F4.5 Coulter Optics Pyrex Solid rotating tube Dobbie PLUS full Bartels drive controller ( including PC), stepper motors etc with Ekhart 1000 tick DSC hardware + encoders PLUS heavy duty fork/ disk mounting PLUS other bits and pieces..... Can we trade???????
The optics are 100%, very good imaging!! The 445mm has an 18 point mirror support and 4.5" secodary; the 333mm is 9 point and 3.1" secondary. I'm holding out for the trade rather than selling individually. The Bartel system ( not mounted on either scope at the moment) is full GOTO capable. 2" eyepiece holders throughout.
I'll get some photos over the weekend of the tube and bases as well as the DSC/ Bartel etc..... Are there any specific areas/ components??
The Dobbie bases; one is in Marine grade ply ( strong as h@#@) the other 18mm customwood. Centre pivots are machined aluminium pins ( 30mm diam) which drop in and run in machined bearing pads, also aluminium.
what are the mirror coatings like, is it centre spotted?
Photo of mirrors, scope setup components, probably just about everything I suppose.
I am still thinking about the 12" and I am not 100% sure so don't get your hopes up. I have heaps of gear and stuff tied up with the 12", around $14000 worth all up and trading or selling the 12 by it's self is a big step for me. My back is , well not good and I haven't used the 12" for quite some time, actually since a viewing night immediatelly when I came back form duckadang last year.
what work would I have to do on the scope? is it easily broken down for transport? is there a crayford focuser?
I know next to nothing about dobs or mirrors (forgive me for I have sinned) so I need to find out about the optics and such so I can base a decision on facts. My 12" is in excellent condition, has dew shield, foam case, 2" diagonal, finderscope, meade weight set, mounting bar and rings for say 80ED on top, 12" dew strap, after market mirror lock, bobs knobs, super tripod, super wedge, derotator, full size solar glass filter, heaps of stuff . Look its a bit more than a tyre kick, i will think about it.
The 333mm is in use; reasonably clean and very usable; the 445mm is still protected by 3M stribbable film so is in pristine condition; will remove the protection for prespective buyer. Both with centre spots. The445mm has two focussers at the moment a 2" helical ( with no rotation!) and a shorty 2" for photography. The 333mm has a similar 1 1/4" helical but also a new 2" crayford ( not fitted yet but available) The 333mm is in a cradle which also fits the box of the 445mm and allows tube rotation.
Houghy, I don't think we can trade!
Your gear is tooooo costly. I've already been offered $2000 for the 445mm optics only and looking at about $3500 for the lot.
I've also been offer an LX200 12" for $3200 so it seems to work.
Merlin, i would be intrested in th Bartel system by it self. Is it the stepper or servo system. I have stepper motors and laptop, i need circuitry and way to mount the motors. Did you build the circuits yourself?
If no trades; what about a sale? $3,500 for the whole package two telescopes 445mm f4.5 + 333mm F4.5, two bases (one still to be finished: needs base formica/ teflon only), Bartel GOTO includes provision for field de-rotation or focusser + stepper motors; all cables and docs, Eckarts DSC with 1000 tic encoders + brand new 2" Crayford (10:1) plus HD fork/ centre box 2" diam bearings/ and anything else I can find in the shed associated with them. Buy the lot; keep what you want and sell-on the rest.
I make use of a lot of interstate transport so can assist in minimising freight.
I'll post some photos later.
The Bartel Goto and DSC; 2" eyepiece holder on the 445mm; top cage/ trusses (32mm powder coated)/ mirror cell 445mm; 445mm mirror with protective coating.
It would be GROSS overkill on anything less than a 12" scope. Orginally designed for a 450mm f5 and would EASELY handle 100-150Kg. The moving parts weigh about 40Kg.
I'll give you first option on the Bartel if the scopes/ systems don't sell.
Looking at the photos below; it's visible in the background behind the trusses. You can see the polar axis (8" diam) and the disk ( 500mm diam x 20mm thick) the main arms are 75 RHS x 600 long holding 2" plummerblock Dec bearings.
Since that photo it's had a paint job!!
Merlin its ok i saw the other photos in your prevuious add for the fork. Its overkill as you say. Keep me posted on the Bartel System. I still got to work out how to attach it to my GSO 10" Dob, and work out the gears, bearings etc.
